• labor shortages
    刚刚美国国土安全部(DHS)发布了针对季节性临时工H-2签证最终规定 美国国土安全部(DHS)近日发布了针对H-2签证计划的最终规定,旨在增强对季节性农业(H-2A)和非农业(H-2B)临时工的保护。这些新规包括延长工人工作变更的灵活性,例如在终止雇佣后可享受最长60天的宽限期,以便寻找新工作或准备离境。此外,新规明确了签证有效期前10天和到期后30天内的工人身份保持规则。这些措施旨在缓解农业和季节性行业的劳动力短缺问题,同时加强对工人的保护,如举报者保护机制和禁止费用的新规定。新规将于30天后生效,并为2025财年额外提供64,716个H-2B签证配额,以促进经济发展。 美国国土安全部(DHS)于2024年12月17日发布了关于H-2签证计划的最终规定,旨在进一步完善对季节性临时工的保护措施,同时提升雇佣灵活性。这些新规涉及H-2A(农业工人)和H-2B(非农业工人)签证,覆盖了农业、酒店、旅游、园艺以及海鲜加工等多个领域。这些规定既解决了美国当前的季节性劳动力短缺问题,也为持签证的非公民工人提供了更好的法律保护。以下是详细内容: 新规定的核心内容 增加新的60天宽限期 在工人工作中断或终止后,可享最长60天的宽限期,用于寻找新的符合要求的工作或准备离境。 期间工人不会因身份问题被视为非法滞留。 延长并扩大现有宽限期 现有因签证撤销的30天宽限期延长至60天,同时适用于所有H-2签证批准被撤销的情况。 保持身份期间的新规定 明确H-2A和H-2B签证持有人在签证有效期前10天和有效期到期后30天内,其身份仍被视为合法。 新增的拒签依据和禁止费用规定 严格限制第三方对工人收取任何违规费用,以保护工人利益。 对部分签证申请设置了新的拒签依据,以防止滥用签证系统。 举报保护机制 新增对H-2工人的举报保护措施,与H-1B工人享有的保护措施相似,鼓励工人举报潜在的不当行为或剥削行为。 背景与影响 缓解劳动力短缺 H-2签证计划在美国经济中扮演重要角色,尤其是在季节性需求高峰期。 2023财年,美国发放了近31万张H-2A签证,反映出农业领域对外籍劳动力的高度依赖。 同时,2025财年将新增64,716个H-2B签证名额,超出现有法定的6.6万配额。 经济意义 此次改革不仅帮助农业和季节性行业缓解劳动力紧缺,还提升了外籍劳动力的工作保障和生活质量,助力经济增长。 国土安全部强调,新规将在帮助雇主和保护工人之间取得平衡。 对雇主的帮助 USCIS(美国公民及移民服务局)表示,新规将加速签证流程,为雇主更高效地填补临时或季节性岗位。 总结 这次DHS的最终规定标志着H-2签证计划进入一个新的发展阶段,通过更灵活的宽限期安排、更严格的费用限制以及举报保护措施,提升了美国对外籍工人权益的重视,同时也帮助雇主更好地应对劳动力市场需求。这些变化不仅能满足季节性行业的用工需求,还为美国经济注入新的活力。
    labor shortages
    2024年12月18日
  • labor shortages
    应对心理健康危机:42%的公司计划推出新的员工福利 根据The Conference Board的最新报告,尽管HR领导们对劳动力市场的乐观程度略有上升,但员工保留和参与度的预期与去年相比有所下降,显示出劳动力短缺的持续问题。报告揭示,随着员工心理健康问题的加剧,42%的公司计划今年提供新的福祉福利。企业承认对员工福祉负有责任,并在增加对健康项目的关注和支出方面取得了显著进展。报告强调,全面考虑员工福祉不仅可以提高员工参与度和生产力,还能保留人才。  Tackling the Mental Health Crisis: 42% of Companies Plan to Offer New Employee Well-Being Benefits NEW YORK, March 22, 2024 -- Corporate America's HR leaders continue to be more optimistic than pessimistic about the state of the workforce. The Conference Board CHRO Confidence Index ticked up to 54 in Q1, from 53 last quarter. (A reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses.) While retention and engagement expectations improved from last quarter, the survey reveals they are down compared to this time last year, signaling ongoing concerns about labor shortages. Hiring expectations remained stable. The survey also reveals that businesses are stepping up as mental health concerns continue taking a toll on workers throughout the nation: 42% of surveyed companies plan to offer new well-being benefits this year. Indeed, 36% say businesses are responsible for the well-being of their employees, with another 62% saying they are somewhat responsible. As a result, they are ramping up their focus on employee wellness: In addition to those offering new well-being benefits, a quarter plan to increase spending on well-being initiatives. "Taking a holistic view of worker well-being can not only improve employee engagement and productivity but also retain your talent—a top focus of both CEOs and CHROs this year," said Diana Scott, Leader of The Conference Board US Human Capital Center. The Index, conducted quarterly, was launched in Q1 2023 and is comprised of three components—hiring, retention, and engagement—as well as special questions included in each survey. Nearly 150 CHROs participated in the Q1 survey, which included additional questions on employee well-being. Key findings include: Hiring The CHRO Confidence Index: Hiring component remained the same as both last quarter and YoY, at 55. CHROs' workforce expansion plans remained stable in Q1, with fewer CHROs expecting to increase or decrease hiring in the next six months: 36% of CHROs expect to increase their hiring over the next six months—down from 44% in Q4. 13% expect to decrease their hiring over the next six months—down from 19% in Q4. Retention The CHRO Confidence Index: Retention component rose to 53 in Q1 2024 from 51 in Q4 2023. But retention expectations are down YoY from 57 in Q1 2023. CHRO expectations regarding employee retention ticked up slightly in Q1: 29% of CHROs expect their employee retention levels to improve over the next six months—up slightly from 28% in Q4. 19% of CHROs expect employee retention to decrease over the next six months, down from 22% in Q4. Engagement The CHRO Confidence Index: Engagement component rose to 54 in Q1 2024 from 52 in Q4 2023. But engagement expectations are down YoY from 58 in Q1 2023. Fewer CHROs expect declines in employee engagement in Q1: 35% expect engagement levels to increase—down slightly from 37% in Q4. 20% expect engagement levels to decrease—down significantly from 31% in Q4. Special Questions for Q4: Employee Well-Being For Q1 2024, the Index also surveyed CHROs on employee well-being. CHROs overwhelmingly agree that organizations share responsibility for their employees' well-being. 62% said organizations are somewhat responsible. 36% said organizations are responsible. Only 2% said organizations are not responsible for employee well-being. A quarter of CHROs increased spending on employee well-being in 2024. 26% said their well-being budget increased for FY2024. 69% said it remained the same. Only 5% decreased spending on well-being. Nearly half of CHROs plan to offer new well-being benefits, despite most keeping spending the same. 42% plan to offer new benefits this year. 39% do not plan to offer new benefits. 19% are discussing offering new benefits. Mental and physical health are the top priorities for new well-being initiatives. Of those offering new benefits: 20% are offering mental health initiatives. 15% are offering physical health and fitness initiatives. 12% are offering financial well-being initiatives. 10% are offering work-life balance initiatives. About The Conference BoardThe Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org SOURCE The Conference Board
    labor shortages
    2024年03月24日